Floating merry-go-round.



J. E. WRIGHT.

FLOATING MERRY-GO-ROUND. APPLICATION FILED J'ULYZQ, 1912.

1,086,742. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD..\\ASHINGTDN. D. c.

barren snares PATENT onrron JUDSON E. WRIGHT, 0F SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES FREY, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

FLOATING MERRY-GO-ROUND.

oeexzaa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Fcb. 10, 1914.

Application filed July 29, 1912. Serial No. 712,205.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JUDsoN E. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Diego, State of California, have invented a new and useful Floating Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is to provide a floating merry-go-round that can be safely moored near the shore of an ocean or lake without interfering with the rotation of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means to move the device to and from the shore to take on and unload passengers.

Additional objects and advantages, such as improvement in respect to simplicity and reliability of construction, may hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in the parts, combinations of parts and details of construction hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then definitely pointed out in generic and also in more limited claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a cross section on line m w of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational detail showing handoperable means on the shore to move the device to and from shore; Fig. 4 is an elevational detail of both engine-operable and hand-operable means for moving the device to and from shore.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the annular floating body 1 preferably consists of a walled chamber forming a water-tight compartment 2, said body having the internal braces or timbers 3 and being provided with the platform 4, upon which is mounted a series of seats 5. Arranged concentrically within said annular body 1 and on substantially the same level therewith is a floating member 6 upon which is mounted an engine 7. Said floating member 6 is connected with and supported in fixed relation to the annular body 2 by means of a frame consisting of the transverse beams 8, the uprights 9 and the oblique braces 11.

In order to impart a rotary movement to the entire device, the same is rotated by means of a propeller 14 carried by an inclined shaft 15, a bevel driven gear 16 being fixed to said shaft. A driving bevel gear 17 is n mesh with said driven gear 16, said driving gear being fixed, to the engine shaft 18. Said propeller 14 is preferably mounted near the inner edge of the annular body 1, and 1s, of course, placed beneath the surface of the water. As illustrated in the drawings, the driven shaft 15 of said propeller is supported by brackets 21 and 22 projecting from the inner side of the annular body 1.

In order to move the entire device to and from shore for the-purpose of taking on and removing passengers, I provide a double cable 25, which is supported next to the shore by a post 26, the outer end of said cable being supported by post 27 The post 27 carries a sheave 28 over which that end of cable 25 passes. The post 26 carries an upper sheave 29 and a lower sheave 30, that end of the cable being led over said sheaves down to and around a drum 31 provided with an operating handle for crank 32, a gear 32, and a locking paWl 32". Drum 31 is rotated by means of a pinion 33 fixed to a shaft 34 rotated by crank 34'.

The construction just described enables an operator on the shore to move the merrygo-round to and from the land. It is desirable, however, that means should be provided for moving the device to and from the land by a mechanism which can be operated upon the central member or body 6. To this end I provide an upper horizontal drum 35 and a lower horizontal drum 36, one of the ends of cable 25 being attached to the upper drum 35 to wind thereon in one direction and the other end of the cable being attached to the lower drum 36 to wind thereon in the other direction. Said drums 35 and 36 are separated by a rib 35. Both of said drums are made fast to an upright shaft 37 located centrally of the central body 6. The lower portion of shaft 37 carries a driven gear 38, said driven gear being in mesh with a driving bevel gear 39, the latter gear being fixed to a shaft 39 having suitable bearings 39 and being operable by a crank 43. Said bevel gear may, if desired, be driven from the engine 7 by any well known connections. For example, a bevel driving gear 40 mounted on the engine shaft 18 and provided with a grooved block 41 and gear shift lever 42. The positive winding on to one and at the same time unwinding from the other of the drums 35,

36, results in an improvement over devices in which power is wasted by reason of the rope being compelled to slip endwise of a single drum upon which it is wound and unwound simultaneously.

A suitable gangway 4:5 is provided on shore to aid in removing and loading on passengers.

A suitable awning 50 is provided. Also a railing 51 along the inner side of the annular body 2 to safeguard passengers. Passengers may walk from seat to seat along the aisle 53.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific means for rotating the device. A propeller'located at a different point or a plurality of propellers may be used to impart the rotary motion, or other changes may be made such as will fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a merry-go-round an annular floating body, a floating member located centrally of said annular body, means to connect said central member with said annular body in fixed relation thereto, a motor located on said central member, and a propeller driven by said motor to rotate said annular member.

2. In a merry-go-round a floating structure, a cable having two runs extended across said structure, means to fasten said cable to said structure, there being a suitable connection between said cable and structure, means on the shore to move said cable in order to propel said structure from and toward the shore, means on the shore to lock said cable against movement, and means on said floating structure to operate upon said cable to propel said structure toward the shore.

3. In a merry-go-round an annular floating body, a floating member located concentrically of said annular body, a frame to maintain said member in fixed relation to said annular body, a motor mounted on said member, a propeller within said annular body to rotate the same, and means operatively connecting said propeller With said motor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 16th day of July 1912.

JUDSON E. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. MERRILL, CHAS. J. Hones.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentm,

Washington, D. O." 

